Sheffield United VS West Bromwich Match Prediction
2018-12-14
19:45:00
Sheffield United
VS
West Bromwich
Our Prediction Tip
Draw will win this match.
2018-12-1419:45:00 Draw will win this match.
West Brom have the slight edge with 44 wins to Sheffield United’s 41 in this fixture but this will be their first match against each other since a 3-1 West Brom win in January 2010. Chris Brunt played for West Brom in that game and is the only player still with either club.
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Both sides left it late last weekend, with Sheffield United beating Reading 2-0 and West Brom snatching a home draw against Aston Villa.
The Baggies were fortunate Jay Rodriguez’s leveller was not ruled out for handball, but the result does keep them in the promotion-chasing pack at the top of the Championship.
For the Blades, two away wins sandwich a demoralising loss to Leeds in their last home game and they will be keen to bounce back.
West Brom thrashed Leeds 4-1 when they met, and have not lost a game in the four since.
The last two have been draws, however, and it could go three from three considering there is little to choose between the two sides.
Leon Clarke’s probable absence is an obvious blow for Sheffield United but it is at the other end the key battles will take place, with West Brom’s strikers in good form.
Rodriguez, Dwight Gayle and Harvey Barnes are all in top form but if the Blades can keep the league’s top scorers quiet, a point will be the least they deserve.
Sheffield United are 6/5 to beat West Brom with Bet365 while the Baggies are a best price of 11/5 with the same bookmaker. The smart money might be on the draw, however, at 49/20 with 888sport.
West Brom have not kept an away clean sheet all season and both teams to score is 10/17 with 10Bet. You can get a score draw at a 16/5 with Ladbrokes, Betfair and Betway.
Billy Sharp is leading the way for the hosts this season but is a generous 13/10 with Ladbrokes, Betway and 888sport to score at any time, while Dwight Gayle (9/5 with Betway) and Jay Rodriguez (39/20 with 888sport) are the picks for West Brom.
There is very little to choose between these two sides with the key likely to be how the Blades’ defence copes with West Brom’s front three. A draw would not be a disaster for either.
Last season’s Sheffield United top goalscorer Leon Clarke faces a big fight to be fit to face West Brom after aggravating an old, unspecified injury. Clarke missed the win at Reading last time out as a result. Should he miss out, Billy Sharp – who scored as a substitute at Reading – could start alongside David McGoldrick. Mark Duffy came on at half-time for John Lundstram last time out, but the latter may be a better fit against West Brom’s free-flowing attack.
Billy Sharp – The late goal in the win at Reading was the Blades’ top scorer’s 11th of the season so far, from 19 appearances.
Chris Basham – The big centre-back will have his work cut out at the heart of the defence against West Brom’s in-form forwards.
David McGoldrick – The former Ipswich man will likely be up front if Leon Clarke misses out, where he could add to his five goals and one assists so far this season.
Sheffield United have won two and drawn two of their last five games but their only defeat was a crucial one - their last home game, when they lost ground on Leeds United after a 1-0 loss to their Yorkshire rivals. Either side, the Blades have won away – 3-2 at Brentford after an own goal and Oliver Norwood’s strike put them 2-1 up after 15 minutes before Leon Clarke’s late winner. It took two late goals last time out too, as Billy Sharp and an own goal earned a 2-0 win at Reading.
West Brom have switched to a back four during their recent unbeaten run and Darren Moore now has key selection decisions to make. Veteran midfielder Gareth Barry played 90 minutes against his former club, Aston Villa, last time out but could miss out in favour of available-again James Morrison. Up front, Bakary Sako is lacking match fitness, so the front three of Dwight Gayle, Jay Rodriguez and Harvey Barnes seem likely to continue in his place.
Dwight Gayle – The Newcastle loanee now has ten goals and five assists for the season after scoring the Baggies’ first equaliser in the 2-2 draw with Aston Villa.
Jay Rodriguez – Joint-top scorer with Gayle after his controversial stoppage-time equaliser last weekend.
Harvey Barnes – The Leicester loanee has scored eight times so far this season and, like Gayle, has also contributed five assists.
West Brom are unbeaten in their last five matches after ending a tough run of results by thrashing Leeds 4-1 last month. Goals from Jay Rodriguez and Harvey Barnes continued the revival away to Ipswich, where they won 2-1, while it was centre-backs Craig Dawson and Ahmed Hegazi on target when they beat Swansea by the same score. The Baggies have drawn two from two since, however – conceding a late equaliser after Harvey Barnes’ goal against Brentford, before a late equaliser of their own against Aston Villa when Dwight Gayle and, in stoppage time with his hand, Jay Rodriguez ensured a share of the spoils.
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